Is technology enabling amateur DJs to work on hype alone? Is it muddling the skills it once took to be called a DJ? With the barrier to entry now ripped away by easy to use software and gadgets, what does it all mean? The DJ community is wondering if technology is destroying the art of DJing.
Veteran DJ Ali On The Air vents her frustration to her blog readers:
It seems that with the nightly dance parties in heavy supply, anyone, and I do mean anyone, with a laptop and i tunes is now a DJ. So where does that leave the DJs who have been doing it for years? What does it mean to be a DJ? Is it style? Are you a DJ if you can scratch? Is it substance? Does being a DJ constitute having a good selection and crate digging your heart out? Or can you get by if you get the crowd to dance by playing Thriller and Justice off your Nano? And is it any great feat to get a bunch of kids cracked out on Sparks to sway and slam to a beat? Ugh.
She comes to the conclusion that essential DJ skills such as song selection, sequencing and proper mixing still matter. The computer can’t do that for you.
A lot of the old school dj/turntablists that I’ve interviewed are very careful not to slam Serato. “It means I don’t have to carry 80 pounds worth of records on the airplane with me.” said one. But they do say that you can’t polish a turd; meaning if you kill on the decks with 45s, then you’ll be great with serato. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you will still suck. Technology can sink or swim you.
[via URB]
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Seems like everyone will soon be moving data around regardless of their profession or hobby, cradle to grave.
Anyway, I was going to say they are no longer Jockeying the Disk. However, there is a hard disc involved so the initials still stand.
When all the players move to flash drives it will be Drive Jockeying.
Regardless, it won’t be able to do this (Cutmaster Swift, DMX, 89)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_zskvJry3-U
He should stick to the decks and avoid the dancing IMHO.
May 16th, 2008 at 10:38 am
I think technology can really enhance a good DJ’s performance. Look at tools such as Serato. It enhances your repertoire and artistic possibilities. You can play the freshes tunes straight from your favourite MP3 Blog, even your own mixes and mashups make it to your decks with the convenience of handling a vinyl (control) record. I mean back in the days you needed to have your own dub-plates pressed that would last only a couple of weeks when in heavy use. Attach a control-pad to Serato and get crazy looping and sampling bits from your tunes…
Bad DJs have always been around, no matter if they used CDs, ipods, records or whatever. And on the other hands: There are DJs who are bad at making transitions and mixes, and they still can rock a crowd.
May 16th, 2008 at 11:08 am
What is good art? What is good business? What is good food? To each of these questions we each have our own answer…thus, a good DJ…or any DJ, is the one that I (or you) like. That’s it.
You will fight a losing battle if you attempt to “tell” people what good is. Do your thing and let them decide…it’s the only model that works.
May 16th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
i’d definitely put myself in the digital camp when it comes to most things, but I’m much more conflicted when it comes to the digital dj.
this hit me clear in the forehead at SXSW this year. the yearly digital dj contests with uninspired lads behind a laptops, the not so great electronic shows, and hell..even the opener for moby (and quite successful) Junkie XL had me confused. all the pointing at the crowd, dancing around, and playing with the pre-loaded soundboard , etc simply pissed me off.
gimme the likes of http://www.djlogic.com/, kid koala, and mark farina thanks.
so I’ll mix and dj with my digital apps, but when it comes to seeing a show maybe this is the point, and the one point alone that I’ll remain a (mostly) old-skool anti-digital fool.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
@scott – Ritchie Hawtin is a good DJ. If you disagree, I’m happy to step outside *rolls up sleeves*
May 16th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Um, doesn’t this article forget the one thing about DJs? They’re not musicians. If playing a record makes you a musician then watching sports on TV makes you an athlete. Technology (namely the record player) has defined these guys from the start. More technology doesn’t make them less non-musicians. It just makes it clearer that being a DJ is not an art.
May 17th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I agree with all of you. There is alot to debate about in this subject.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:33 am
setting the record straight…
http://www.vimeo.com/961877
May 20th, 2008 at 7:22 am
its has destroyed. iv seen guys using lap tops and just playing one track after another on request, sure a lot of creative DJing can be done with ableton etc , and controllerism takes it into the future context, but the disco days are over. At the beginning of the 80s I was resident every friday and saturday used to bring my records to a club, play a program , push new tunes , get promo copies from record companies, get paid , and infact live off it. These days you would be lucky to be asked to do a gig but expected to bring your gear a crowd and promote the whole thing yourself.
December 8th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Djing is about two things the music and the show, if you can do both, then that is what it is all about, and it is not about the the medium you use to play the music, but the music itself, so technology is just progress and things change, I am a straight vinyl junkie,but because of change you have to use digital files, and electronics, like is said, it is all about the music.
DJCHUCKNJ
“Must Be The Music”
December 30th, 2008 at 10:20 am